At what point should you think about having your hearing assessed? Here are a few signs that suggest you should have your hearing evaluated.
Recently, my kids complained about how loud my television was. Do you know what I said to them? I said, “What?!” It was amusing because it was a joke. But there’s nothing comical about neglected hearing loss. The volume of the TV has been escalating. And I started to think about whether I should set up a hearing assessment.
There’s no good reason to avoid scheduling a hearing test. They aren’t invasive, there’s no radiation, and you don’t have to be concerned about discomfort. You just need to take a brief moment to set up an appointment.
Considering how much neglected hearing loss can impact your health, it’s important to be more vigilant about it.
Indications you should get a hearing test
If you’ve noticed any recent changes that may be a sign of hearing loss, booking a thorough hearing evaluation with a professional is probably a wise decision. Obviously, if things are difficult to hear, that’s a rather solid indication of hearing loss.
- It’s difficult to hear in noisy places: Have you ever been to a crowded or noisy room and had trouble following the conversation because of all the ambient noise? That may be an indication of hearing loss.
- People always seem to be talking unclearly: The issue might not always be volume but instead clarity.
- You’re always overlooking text messages: Your phone is made to be loud. So, if you’re constantly missing calls or text messages, it could be because you aren’t hearing them.
- Ringing that won’t go away: Ringing in your ears, also called tinnitus, is often an indication of hearing damage.
Here are several other situations that indicate you should schedule a hearing evaluation:
- Your ear is still clogged following an infection
- Surplus earwax has accumulated and can’t be removed by self-cleaning methods
- Medicines you’re using may be harming your hearing
- Determining where sounds are coming from can be difficult
- You have vertigo
Regular checkups
Even if you’re not experiencing any obvious symptoms, it’s still significant to schedule regular hearing exams.
- Get a baseline test done sometime after you’re 21.
- For individuals with normal hearing, it’s advised to have a hearing exam every three years.
- If you display symptoms of hearing loss, have it assessed right away and then annually thereafter.
Routine screenings may detect hearing loss early, before any symptom are evident. Early professional attention can substantially improve your chances of preserving healthy hearing over time. So you should decrease the volume on your television and consider setting up a hearing evaluation.